Although the rain soaked the track, the participants and the fans, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of racing last week.

A late afternoon rain shower forced track officials to cancel the first racing night at Fairbury American Legion Speedway last Saturday night but fans will be hoping for the racing card to take place this week.

The track, in its 67th year of racing, will try again this Saturday with late models, modifieds, sportsman and street stock divisions in action. The 1/4-mile semi banked dirt oval, sanctioned by United Midwest Promoters, will have the 3rd Street gate open at 3 p.m. for pits only and 2nd Street gate for early arriving spectators. The 1st Street gate will open at 5 p.m. Hot laps start at 5:50, qualifying is at 6:30, and racing will follow. Gate admission is $10 for adults and children under 12 are free with a paying adult. Admission is $25 for a pit pass.

The “lock eight,” used to determine the top eight starting positions for late models and modifieds, has been dropped for the 2013 season. The speedway has decided to implement the new “Fairbury Format” instead.

The new system will be used for all weekly events. Sportsman and street stock drivers will use the format when they have their specials.

Here is how it works. The fast qualifier will receive $50 from Warren Hartman Trucking of Normal, each week and spin a wheel located near the scale in the infield.

Numbers will be staggered equally between one through four on the wheel and the number the driver spins will determine the number of cars to be inverted in each heat race for the night.

Each heat race will be lined up by the invert number and staggered by their qualifying time.

Feature lineups will go back to qualifying times based on the finish position in each heat.

Lincoln Speedway

Saunemin’s T.D. Burger claimed his first career modified feature on April 21 at Lincoln, holding off a persistent challenge from Lance Dehm.

“It feels good to get that first win in the modified,” Burger said. “To beat the competition we had tonight and having Lance right behind me makes it even more special.

“Norm Horn and his crew do a tremendous job with the track. We are going to run for the track championship here. On Saturdays and Sundays, we are going to run for the U.M.P. Western Regional points.”

Burger added, “I have to thank Mike Vallow and Mario Vietti at Vallow Body and Chassis. I have to thank my crew of Tim Burger, Jim Burger, Don Burger, Bill Davis and Joe Livingston. They put in some long hours and sacrifices to make this possible. And a special thanks to our wives, girlfriends, and the kids. I wish they could have been here tonight. They have to endure a lot and I am forever grateful.”

Page 2 of 3 - The modifieds will take their tops off and run for $800 to the winner this Friday. Pro lates, street stocks, compacts and an appearance by the non-winged lightning sprints will highlight the show.

Farmer City Speedway

Jason Feger took the lead with two laps remaining to win the “Douglas Dodge 50” last Friday at Farmer City.

“I couldn’t have done it without that caution flag with four to go,” an emotional Feger said afterward. “It’s been a rough week and I think the emotions got the best of me. I was spent there. I just manned up and got up on the wheel.

“They stuck it to me pretty good for telling the truth. I promise there wasn’t anything on my tires, illegal or alternating. I would never do that to this sport or the people,” Feger added. I have to thank all my sponsors, friends, and fans. The support everyone has shown me has been unbelievable. It’s a little bit of sweet revenge.”

Following Feger’s win at Farmer City’s “Illini 100,” World of Outlaw officials found a tire Feger used in his heat race win to be chemically enhanced.

Although Feger changed tires for the 100-lap feature, officials stripped Feger of his $20,000 feature win.

Feger has appealed the decision and is working with World Racing Group officials to determine how, why and what chemicals were found. His penalties will not go into effect until the appeals committee makes a decision.

Farmer City has been reinstated into the UMP and the UMP sanction began with last Friday’s race program. This week’s racing will be held for late models, modified, sportsman, street stocks and hornets. Gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps start at 6:30, qualifying is at 7 and racing will follow. Adult admission is $12 for adults and children under 12 are free. A pit pass is $25.

LaSalle Speedway

LaSalle Speedway got its racing program in last Saturday and Highland’s Randy Korte made the long haul a successful one as he captured the late model feature. Kevin Weaver, driving Jay Morris’s back up car finished second, followed by Morris, Richie Bell, and Scott Schmitt.

This Saturday will be another weekly program of late models, modified, street stocks and 4-cylinders. Pit gates open at 4 p.m., spectator gates at 5, and racing starts at 7:30.

Page 3 of 3 - Kankakee Speedway

Kankakee Speedway begins its 62nd year of racing this Friday night. A full program of late models, pro lates, modified, street stocks, compacts and I-mods will take to the 1/3-mile dirt facility. Hot laps start at 6 p.m., qualifying is at 6:30 and racing starts at 7:30.

Route 66 Speedway

Pontiac’s Route 66 Speedway will open its season this Sunday. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., practice is at 12:15 p.m. and racing starts at 1 p.m. The track is located on Route 66, between Pontiac and Chenoa. The 1/8-mile dirt oval will feature kart racing in several classes. Admission is free but a donation box will be set up to help offset the cost of running the track.